It’s crazy to think that it has been nine years this month
since we took the leap of faith from being full time employed workers to
becoming small business entrepreneurs.
Our story isn't a sexy ‘Facebook
is going to buy us one day’ tale, or even a ‘We have a brilliant idea let’s build it in our garage’ kind of
legend. Instead it’s a culmination of a lot of life happening, a long-time
dream to work together and a ‘We’re done with the status quo’ experiment.
And we've never looked back.
Entrepreneurship is truly an amazing thing. It offers
flexibility, new ventures and opportunities that can be limited when working
for others. There are challenges to be sure, but you learn to go with the flow
and adapt as necessary. For example, when funding challenges plagued our core
industry, we adapted by changing our name, rebranding and expanding our core
target to include small business. We still do a lot of work with the workforce
industry where we got our start, but small business has been a natural and
welcomed extension.
The other wonderful thing is there hasn't been a ‘typical
day at the office’ for us. We've worked with so many different customers – from
a telecommunications technology company, to a custom drilling company, to a
medical coding solopreneur, to a simulation and training start-up, to many
workforce-related vendors, organizations and associations across the country.
And our list of tasks goes well beyond marketing, graphic design and event
planning where we started and now includes other things as diverse as contract
management, human resources management, logistics, magazine editors, trade show
planning, office design, virtual conferences and much more.
Technology has been our best friend and has allowed us to
live in different places and have customers in other different places. And
we've connected with so many people we would never have met otherwise.
Most of all we are thankful - to our families and fur babies
who have supported us every step of the way, and to all of you who have honored
us by becoming our customers and friends and those we have yet to meet.
We are looking forward to celebrating many more
anniversaries with you.
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Kim Luedke and Kerry Brooks are Co-owners of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing, event planning and other support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff. Learn more at www.gettheprofessionaledge.com.
Kim Luedke and Kerry Brooks are Co-owners of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing, event planning and other support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff. Learn more at www.gettheprofessionaledge.com.
